Prior to coming to Bland, we watched a documentary in which Diane Sawyer went to Appalachia and followed those that were affected by poverty and drug-addicted parents. This documentary showcased the lives of a high school football player living out of his car, a 12-year old girl with a drug-addicted mother and a 19-year old male forced to quit school and become a miner to support his pregnant wife. The stories were much more severe than what we would expect within the U.S. One of the expectations we came in with, having watched the video, was this image of a drug-infested society. Even though there is abject poverty, there are many within Appalachia who would willingly pay $120 for a single pill of Oxycontin.
Upon our arrival at Camp Laurel, we were welcomed with open arms by a family who hosts summer camp groups. They proceeded to tell us about hikers on the Appalachian Trail and the types of characters that frequent the trail. Thus far, we have not seen any of the disturbing images that we came in expecting to see. Given that the documentary focused on Kentucky and we’re located in Virginia, their experiences may differ greatly from what we are currently experiencing.
From this week, we hope to gain a wholistic view of the society. Not only would we like to assist the Bland community, but we’d also like to form bonds and hear about their lived experiences. Hearing about their background will make our work more meaningful and long-lasting.
To be continued!
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